Family learnt of van driver’s demise from TV

On Sunday, Lakhan Das, 38, got up early. He was to take his colleagues at the Dhansa air force station for sightseeing. Das left home at 7am in a Maruti van. Less than two hours later, at 9.45am, the father of two met with an accident in the same van.

On Sunday, Lakhan Das, 38, got up early. He was to take his colleagues at the Dhansa air force station for sightseeing. Das left home at 7am in a Maruti van. Less than two hours later, at 9.45am, the father of two met with an accident in the same van.

Das was severely injured after a speeding car rammed into his vehicle near India Gate. He later died at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

His wife learnt of the accident when she saw the mangled van on TV.

Said Naveen Thakur, a neighbour of the Das family, "I first saw the news flashing on TV. I rushed to his house to tell his wife that Das has met with an accident and is badly injured. His wife also saw it on TV before leaving for the hospital."

The family reached the hospital at 2pm, praying that Das, a grade four employee of the Indian Air Force (IAF), would only be injured.

Little did they know that he had succumbed to injuries before they could meet him for the last time.

"I don't know how my father is. No one is telling us anything. I hope he's alright,” said the IAF personnel's daughter.

"We are not able to muster up the courage to tell his wife and daughter that he's dead. His daughter, Pooja, is in 10th standard and his son studies in 9th standard. We don't know how they are going to bear this pain," added Thakur.

The family was finally told about Das' demise in the evening.

"He died of severe head injuries," said a senior doctor, requesting anonymity.